Greyware

Greyware is a type of malicious software (malware) that is used to sabotage a computer system or network. It is a generic term that covers a wide range of malicious programs such as spyware, adware, viruses, worms, and Trojans.

Unlike viruses which cause damage to a system by infecting files, greyware is more likely to cause subtle changes in how a system behaves, or to slow down the performance of a computer by running nagging processes or loading unwanted programs. It can be used for malicious activities such as stealing passwords, identity theft, and spying on computer users.

Greyware is typically installed without the user’s knowledge or consent and is often used as an entry point by attackers to gain access to a computer system or network. It is difficult to detect and remove greyware since it can imbed itself in the file system in multiple locations.

Most commercial security software can detect and remove greyware, but in most cases prevention is the best strategy. Strict security policies that monitor all types of data coming to and from a computer network and regular security scans are essential in minimizing greyware threats.